Renovation of the Amelia Island Welcome Center Butterfly Garden
Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, FL
A Civic Beautification Project of the Bartram Garden Club, Inc.
In 2019 a butterfly garden was installed near the Train Depot Welcome Center on Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach. The project was a cooperative effort with city businesses, Main Street Fernandina Beach, Inc., the Fernandina Beach High School Key Club, and many volunteers. By 2023, the garden was suffering from neglect, and somewhat of an eyesore in an area that gets a lot of visitors and foot traffic.
In collaboration with Main Street Fernandina Beach and the City of Fernandina Beach Parks and Recreation Department, the Bartram Garden Club, Inc. officially adopted the garden renovation as a Civic Beautification project for 2023-2025. In addition to beautification of the Centre Street corridor, the site is an educational demonstration garden and provides an environmental benefit to pollinators.
After a site assessment and inventory of existing plants, a planting scheme was developed. Plants were selected for their benefit to pollinators, inclusion in the original planting scheme, and hardiness in an area that is impacted by pedestrian foot traffic. The City of Fernandina Beach provided funding for new plants, including pentas, Apostle Lily, zinnias, and milkweed. The ongoing maintenance of the garden is a volunteer effort of a group of BGC club members who contribute about 2-4 hours per week.
Photos of the ongoing project. Click on an image to see the full resolution.
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